Portable window cleaner



June 20, 1933. l, M, OLDHAM 1,914,755

PORTABLE WINDOW CLEANER Filed Feb. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gij/QQ. I @5June zo, 1933. l. M, QLDHAM 1,914,755

PORTABLE WINDOW CLEANER Filed Feb. 8, 1932 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Patented June20, 1933 UNITED STATES INEZ MARIANI OLDHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISPORTABLE WINDOVT CLEANER Application filed February 8, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical window Washingapparatus, having for an object to provide a machine which is especiallyadvantageous for usage in the emcient washing and polishing of the outersurface areas of window panes without the necessity of a user thereofexposing or subjecting himself to those well-known hazards incident tothe manual washing and polishing of the outer surfaces of windows, as bystanding or sitting in a window frame with the entire or a goodlyportion of the workers body without the frame.

It is likewise an equally important object of the invention to provide amachine of the character mentioned of such construction that window panesurfaces and particularly, the outer surfaces thereof, may be washed orcleansed over their entire areas and thereupon, fully dried and polishedto a degree of efficiency corresponding to that attainable throughmanual or hand window washing and polishing; likewise, a machine whichwill effect the foregoing operations with but little actual labor and aminimum eX- penditure of energy upon part of the user.

Itis a more specific object of the invention to provide a window washingmachine comprehending mechanically operated washing and polishing meanscapable of universal movement or adjustment during a. washing orpolishing operation, whereby the surface area to be washed and polishedmay be progressively effected in an orderly and practical fashion, themovement or adjustment of said means being under the complete control ofa user in order that all points of such surface areas may be reached,thereby, assuring effectual cleaning and polishing of the same; also,whereby the eXtent of pressure under which the washing and polishingmeans are engaged with or upon the surface area being treated may beregulated to any desired extent at the option of such user.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a windowwashing or polishing machine so constructed that the same may beoperatively set up with respect to pratically any now existing form ofwindow and window frame without alteration Serial No. 591,563.

thereof and without effecting defacing or mutilation of the equippedwindow or frame with devices whereby to permit of mechanical connectionof the machine thereto.

Among other aims and objects of the invention there may be recited theprovision of a machine of the character stated in which the constructionthereof is of simple and economical, yet highly rugged character, hencepermitting the same to satisfactorily withstand rough usage, and which,by reason of its construction, may be manufactured at a cost materiallybelow the costs of producing art.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have inthe accompanying drawings and in the detailed description basedthereupon, set out one possible embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved machine taken on theline 1 1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrowspoint;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l,looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 4L is atop plan view of the support ing frame of the machineshowing the disposition of the cables over the pulleys rotatablysupported thereon;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 6 is a detail in elevation of the window pane wiping andpolishing device, and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a slightly modied form ofoperating means for the window washing and polishing device carryinghead, whereby the same may be positively moved in either upward kindredapparatus heretofore known in the 0r downward directions with respect tothe machine frame.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate corresponding partsthroughout, the improved machine comprises two primary elements ofconstruction, one the washing and polishing device supporting frame orcarriage, generally designated by the numeral 1, and second, themanually operated pressure applying means, which is generally designatedby the numeral 2. The latter element serves as a means for permitting auser of the machine to optionally increase or decrease the degree ofpressure with which the window washing and polishing devices,hereinafter more fully described, are engaged with the surface of awindow pane being treated.

The element 1 consists of an upright substantially rectangular-ly shapedframe 3, having longitudinal ways formed in the inner faces of theopposite vertical sides thereof T he lower portions of these verticalsides are received in the sockets of metal brackets 5, being each formedwith longitudinally disposed slots adapted to receive the Shanks ofsecuring bolts therethrough, which bolts in turn are engaged with theouter sides of said brackets and are provided with locking nuts 6,hence, permitting the connection of the vertical sides of the frame tosaid metal brackets in a manner to allow for limited pivotal movement ofthe former with respect to the latter, due to the loose engagement ofthe securing bolts in said longitudinally disposed slots. The lower endsof each of the brackets 5 are provided with bifurcated bearings 7,rotatably receiving wheels or casters 8 therebetween. The treads of thecasters are preferably covered with felt or like material to preventmarring or mutilation of a window sill surface over which the sametravel during a washing and polishing operation, and also, to preventtransverse slipping of the casters over such surface. Fixedly supportedbetween the lower ends of the vertical frame'sides and between thebrackets 5, is a lateral extension or arm 9, which, as will be notedupon reference to the Figure 1, is laterally extended for a distancebeyond one side of the element 1, and has the under surface thereof,covered with a strip of felt or like material 10, to prevent scratchingor similar defacement of the woodwork of a window in connection withwhich the machine is used. In this connection, it will be noted that thefixed positioning of the arm 9 upon the element 1 is effected at a pointabove the rollers 8 in order that rolling` or shifting movement of theelement 1 over a window sill will not be interfered with when suchmovement is desired. It may be also mentioned at this point, that thelength of the arm 9 is such as to permit the same to extend not onlycompletely across the sill of a window, but for a distance beyond theinner side of said sill, the purpose of which will be subsequentlyapparent.

Mounted upon bearing brackets 11, ixedly secured to an intermediateportion of the upper side of the arm 9 is a rotatable drum 12, theperipheral portion of which is provided with a pair of circumferentiallyeX- tending grooves 13. The shaft 14, which rotatably supports said drum12 between the brackets 11, is so formed as to permit of the fixedconnection of a crank 15 with one end thereof, said crank having asuitable handle 16 upon its free extremity.

With a view toward providing the machine with means for washing thesurface of a window pane, I provide a washing pad or device designatedby the numeral 17, saidQ device being formed of material such as willrender the same capable of absorbing and retaining a quantity of windowwashing liquid. rIhe pad 17 is carried upon the outer and flat side of ahead piece 18, which, in turn, is formed with a laterally extending web18b having marginally opening transverse slots formed in the same. Acarrying element 18 is provided the frame 3 of the machine, and as willbe noted upon reference t0 Y the Figures 1 and 5, the same is formed onone side with a laterally extending web corresponding to the web 18h.This web of the element 18 is provided with fixedly disposed up-standingbolts adapted to be slidably received in the slots of the web-likeextension of the element 18", whereupon locking nuts 18 are turned intoclamping engagement therewith and thus serve to ixedly, yet removablyconnect the head piece 18a to the element 18. l

The opposite ends of the carrying element 18 are provided with rollers19 adapted to have movable engagement in the hereinbefore described waysformed in the inner faces of the vertical opposite sides of the frame 3.It

will, therefore, be seen that the carrying element 18 will be mounted totraverse the entire length of the frame 3, or any desired portion ofsuch length, during a window washing or polishing operation of themachine. That the pad 17 and the carrying element 18 may be movedthrough their rectilinear paths of travel with respect to the verticalsides of the frame 3, I mount in the upper portion 2O of the frame 3, aplurality of pulleys, designated by the numerals 21, 22 and 23. Thepulleys 21 and 23 are mounted upon bearings designated by the numeral24, while the pulleys 22 are paired and are mounted upon a bearing shaft25 arranged upon said upper end of the frame 3 intermediately of thefirst mentioned pulleys. Cables 26 are passed in opposite directionsthrough the upper end of the frame 3 and over the pulleys 22, theopposite ends thereof being iixedly connected to suitable eye-bolts orother devices carried-by the element 18, the remaining portions of saidcables being passed through appropriately formed openings in saidelement 18, as is shown in the F igures 2 and 5 whereby to preventinterference with travel of said element 18 within the frame 3. Thelower portions of the cable 26 as will be noted upon reference to theFigure 1, are passed downwardly with respect to the frame 3 about theperipheral surface of a double pulley 27 mounted upon a suitable bracketfixedly connected to the upper side of the arm 9 in proximity to itspoint of engagement with the frame 3, whereupon said cables arelaterally extended in substantially parallel relation to the arm 9 overanother double pulley 27a, and from thence, into engagement with therotatable manually operable drum 12. Thus, it will be understood, thatwith rotation of the drum 12 in one direction, the carrying element 18and the pad 17 will be elevated with respect to the opposite verticalsides of the frame 3; conversely, that with rotation of said drum in acounterdirection, that the weight of the pad 17 and the carrying element18 will be sufficient to cause the same to descend, by gravity, withrespect to the frame. In this way, reciprocal motion will be transmittedto the washing pad 17, hence, enabling a user of the machine to causesaid pad to vertically traverse the surface area of a window pane beingwashed. Should it be desired, additional weight may be provided thecarrying element 18, whereby to cause quicker descension of the samewith respect to the frame 3.

A pawl and ratchet mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 28,may be provided the shaft 14 of the rotatable drum 12, enabling a userof the machine to releasably lock or secure said drum 12 in any givenposition, and hence, releasably secure the pad 17 in a fixed positionwith respect to the side members of the frame 3.

A drying orv polishing device is provided the machine,- consisting of across bar 29 having a head plate 30 integral therewith, and adapted toreceive thereover a length or piece of chamois or rubber sponge, asdesignated by the numeral 32. The bar 29 is formed with transverselydisposed marginal slots (not shown herein) corresponding to the slotsformed in the web 18h of the head piece 18. Thus, it will be understoodthat the drying or polishing device is adapted to replace the washingpad 17 with its head piece 18a, being releasably yet securely connectedto the web of the carrying element 18 in the manner hereinbeforedescribed. The bar 29 with the drying or polishing element 32 is adaptedto be moved back and forth with respect to the side members of the frame3 and in this connection, it will be understood that the chamois orsponge element 32 is engaged, under proper pressure, with the adjacentsurface of a window pane, hence, effecting drying and polishing thereof.

By reason of the interchangeability of the washing pad 17 and the dryingand polishing device 32, it will be understood that means are providedthe machine for, first, washing a window, and second, drying andpolishing said window.

The manually operable pressure applying element 2 consists of a normallyupwardly disposed curved arm 33, the upper end of which is formed withan inwardly disposed extension 34 carrying a transversely andhoriZontally positioned U-shaped arm 36, said arm, in turn, carryingbetween the opposite ends thereof a roller 35, adapted to have bearingengagement with the adjacent marginal portions of the vertical sides ofthe frame 3. It will be also noted in this connection, that the U-shapedarm 36 has snug spanning engagement with respect to the opposite sidesof the frame 3 and therefore, that by this embracing engagement,material relative lateral movement of the arm 33 with respect to theframe 3 will be prevented. rIhe lower and inwardly disposed end of thearm 33 is pivotally mounted upon an adjacent portion of the laterallyextending arm 9, as at 37, and to this end of said arm there is ixedlyconnected an inwardly disposed laterally extending operating lever 38,carrying a handle or rest portion 39 upon its free extremity which isdisposed in proximity to the inner end of the arm 9. An expansiblecoiled spring 40 is interposed between a portion of the operating arm 38and the arm 9, substantially intermediately thereof, and as will beunderstood, serves as a means for normally retaining the roller carriedupon the upper end of the arm 33, in a disengaged position with respectto the side members of the frame 3, in that said spring will normallyimpart an upward thrust to the lever 38, thereby causing pivotalmovement of the arm 33, to a limited extent in a direction away fromsaid frame 3. If desired, the arm 33 may be suitably braced as throughthe medium of longitudinally and transversely disposed bracing elements,generally indicated by the numeral 41, hence, lending rigidity thereto.

In operation of the improved machine, the carriage constituted by theframe 3, the brackets 5 and the rollers 8, is set up in positionlongitudinally of that portion of a window sill, as indicated by thenumeral 42, in substantially parallel relation to the opposite sidesthereof. In such position, the lower portion of the arm 9 will haveresting engagement with a portion of said sill 42 and by consequence,the frame 3 will be held in a sub stantially up right position withrespect to the window to be washed. It will be understood, that thepositioning of the movable frame 3 upon the window sill will be effectedso that said frame will be juxtaposed with respect to the outer side ofthe window sash, hence, permitting either the washing pad 17 or thedrying and polishing device 32 to be efectually engaged with the outersurface of the pane. Assuming that the outer surface of the window paneis tobe washed, the pad 17 is saturated with the necessary amount ofcleaning liquid and is connected to the carrying element 18 in themanner hereinbefore described. The sashes of the window may, if desired,be arranged in their substantially normal positions subsequently toplacement of the washing and polishing machine to that position as isshown in the Figure 1. The operator now bears downwardly upon the rest39 of the lever 38, fulcruming the pressure applying arm 33 and causingthe roller 35 carried thereby to impart an inward pressure to the frame3, hence, rocking said frame sufhciently to bring the washing pad 17into positive engagement with the outer surface of the window pane, andunder the desired degree of pressure. At this time, the drum 12 isrotated by the crank 15, causing the cables 26' to be coiled thereaboutin a manner to effect the raising of said pad 17 with respect to theframe 3, thus, imparting an upward cleaning stroke to said pad 17 andthereby effectually removing foreign matter from the window surface. Atthe end of the upward vertical movement of the washing pad 17 which iscarried upon the movably mounted carrying element 18 connected with thecables 26, pressure upon the rest 39 of the arm 38 is discontinued,whereupon the coiled spring 40 will impart an upward thrust to said arm38, and conse-- quently, cause the upper end of the arm 33 to be swungaway from the frame 3, thereby removing pressure from said frame andlikewise from the cleaning pad 17 in order that the latter will bedisengaged from the window pane. At such time, the drum 12 is rotated ina counter-direction, thus, uncoiling the previously coiled portions ofthe cable 26 therefrom, and allowing the carrying element 18 and the pad17 to descend with respect to the frame 3, that is, to move to itsoriginal starting position. When the pad 17 has reached the limit of itsdownward movement with respect to the frame 3, pressure is again appliedto said frame 3 through the medium of the arm 33 and the lever 38, thusreengaging said pad 17 with the outer surface of a window, whereupon itmay be moved through an upward cleaning stroke by rotation of the drum12 in its first indicated direction. The raising and lowering of thecarrying element 18 with the pad 17 is repeated as many times as may benecessary to efectually clean the window surface, the operation j ustdescribed being repeated. In order that the pad 17 may be engaged overthe entire surface of the window pane, the carriage of the frame 3 islongitudinally moved with respect to the window sill 42 to a positionwhereat a new or unclean portion of the Window pane will be brought intoalignment or substantial alignment with the washing pad 17. At suchtime, the reciprocal voperation of the pad 17 and the carrying element18 is repeated. These operations are continued until the completesurface or area of the window pane has been washed. Following washing ofthe window pane, it is to be understood that the pad 17 with its headpiece 18a is disconnected from the carrying element 18 and is replacedby they drying and polishing element 32 in order that drying andpolishing of the washed window may be effected through a series ofoperations corresponding to those described in connection with thewindow washing stage.

Obviously, any desired degree of pressure may be applied to a windowpane being washed or polished by the improved machine, through themedium of the manual pressure applying element 2, this varying of degreeof pressure being readily effected by increasing or decreasing theamount of pressure applied .to the rest portion 39 of the operatinglever v38 connected to the pivotally mounted arm 33. As shown in ltheFigure 7, the window washing and drying and polishing devices may bepositively moved through their respective cleaning strokes with respectto the frame 3 by using cables 43, in addition to the cables 26. Thecables 26 are connected to the upper sides of the movable carryingelement 18', while the cables 43 are connected to the lower sidel ofsaid movable carrying element, and are downwardly disposed with respectthereto. These cables 43, of course, may be passed over suitable guidepulleys (not shown) mounted upon appropriate portions of the arm 9 intocoilingengagement with the drum 12 in a direction opposite to that inwhich the cables 26 are coiled about said drum. It will thus beunderstood that with rotation of the drum in one direction, an upwardpull will be imparted to the carrying element 18 by the cables 26 andthat with rotation of the said drum 12 in a counter-direction that thecables '26 will be uncoiled or paid out from the drum 12, whereas thecables 43 will be coiled about said drum or taken up thereby, hence,imparting a directly applied downward pull to said carrying element 18and consequently, causing it to be positively moved through a downwardcleaning stroke. In this way, positive reciprocation of the carryingelement 18 with respect to the frame 3 may be effected.

In operation of my improved window washing and polishing machine, itwill be understood that the operator or user thereof, is at all times,within the room equipped with the window or windows to be washedthereby; consequently, that he is not required to lean from or extendanv portion of his body from the window frame and thereby subjecthimself to those hazards common to the usually employed methods ofwindow washing.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification, and such modification as is within the scope of my claim,I Consider within the spirit of my invention.

I Claim:

A window cleaner, comprising a carriage movable along a window sill, asubstantially rigid lateral extension iiXedly connected thereto, adaptedto extend over the window sill to a point beyond the same, a verticalguide frame mounted on the carriage for limited pivotal movement towardand from a window, a cleaning element movable along the guide frame,remotely operable means connected to said cleaning element for effectingmovement thereof along said iframe7 an upwardly disposed arm having itslower end pivotally mounted upon the carriage for movement toward andfrom the window and having its upper end laterally disposed for bearingengagement with an adj aeent portion of said guide frame, and manuallyoperable means connected to said arm extending to a point therebeyondfor facilitating pivotal movement of the same.

In witness whereof she has hereunto set her hand.

INEZ MARIAM OLDHAM.

